Counter shaper



June 30,1942. w, w s 2,287,920

COUNTER SHAPER Filed Sept. 2, 1941 IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 30, 1942 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,920 COUNTER SHAPER William H. Weaser, Pittsfield, Mass. Application September 2, 1941, Serial No. 409,287

2 Claims.

A new shoe, which fits otherwise, in almost every instance is too narrow in the counter, and has to be shaped to the human heel, either by wearing, at the cost of considerable discomfort, or by means of a stretcher. An old shoe that has been laid aside for some time is under the same condemnation. Counter stretchers which extend forwardly into the toe of a shoe distort the whole shoe, often when the counter is the sole seat of disorder.

This invention aims to provide a counter shaper which will be effective only at the place where remedy is needed: a counter shaper which can be placed and removed easily, either by the fingers or by the use of a pair of pliers: a counter shaper which will hold its place when seated: and a counter shaper which can be manufacture at trifling cost.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan, wherein the device is shown applied, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the device per se.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a counter shaper comprising a block I, with an outline conforming to the inner surface of a shoe counter, and providing on its outer surface with friction means of such configuration as to acquire a firm hold on said surface, the length of the block being such as to confine the shaping to a counter.

The friction means is confined to surfaces at the sides of the block, leaving a smooth surface 2 across the rear of the block and extending liberally on opposite sides of the median, vertical, frontto-back plane A-B of the block. The smooth surface 2 prevents the counter from being frictionally engaged to a greater extent than is absolutely necessary, and the shaping process goes forward the better, on that account.

The friction means comprises grooves 3, ex-

tended from the upper surface of the block I to the lower surface thereof. This feature enhances the hold of the block on the inner surface of the counter. With that end in view, the grooves 3 preferably are V-shaped in cross section.

The block I is provided with alower recess 4 defining a forwardly projecting part 5, capable of being grasped above and below, by the human fingers, to facilitate the placing and removal of the block.

The aforesaid block has vertical slots 6, and said part 5 is in fact a lug, capable of being grasped from above, by a pair of pliers or the like.

The lug 5 does not project forwardly, beyond the forward surface of the block. The entire front surface of the block, therefore, is plane. The block, when not in use, can be supported upon that surface as a base. Packing and storage, moreover are facilitated. The block is removed easily from a shoe. The lug 5 does not project forwardly into an exposed position, in which it is likely to be broken off by rough handling, a consideration which has considerable virtue, in view of the fact that the block generally is made of wood, although a plastic composition may be employed.

The foregoing description and explanation having been studied, it will be obvious that the article consummates the objects set forth in the opening portion of this document.

What is claimed is:

1. A counter shaper so constructed as to function without resort to a toe section, and comprising a free block, of an outline conforming to the inner surface of a shoe-counter, and provided on its outer surface with friction means of such configuration as to acquire a firm hold on said surface, the length of the block being such as to confine the shaping to a counter, the block being provided with a lower recess, the block having vertical slots leading downward to the recess and defining a lug capable of being grasped vertically by the human thumb and finger and h10117lZOnta11y by a pair of pliers inserted into the s o s.

2. The counter shaper of claim 1, further characterized by the fact that the friction means is confined to the sides of the block, leaving a smooth surface-extending unbrokenly across the rear of the block and liberally on opposite sides of the median, vertical, front-to-back plane of the block.

WILLIAM H. WEASER. 

